Tire

Abstract

A tire includes a projection disposed between a tread end and a maximum width position on a side surface. The projection includes a groove that extends through an outer side surface in a circumferential direction. The tire is preferably produced by using a mold which has a first part and a second part and in which a dividing line between the first and the second parts extends in the circumferential direction and comes into contact with the side surface, and the groove preferably overlaps an imaginary line, on the side surface, corresponding to the dividing line. A width of the groove is preferably not less than 1.5 mm and preferably not greater than 3.0 mm.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tire comprising:
 a plurality of projections spaced apart in the circumferential direction and disposed between a tread end and a maximum width position on a side surface of the tire; and 
 tread having a plurality of blocks extending to the tread end, wherein 
 each of the plurality of projections includes only a single groove that extends through an outer side surface of its projection in the circumferential direction, 
 the entirety of each groove is disposed outward of the center of its projection in a radial direction, 
 a depth of each groove is not less than 15% of a thickness of its projection and not greater than 30% of the thickness of its projection, and 
 each of the plurality of projections is formed continuously with a corresponding block. 
 
     
     
       2. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein each groove is disposed in a region in which a distance from an outer side end of the tire is 15% to 45% of a cross-sectional height H 1  of the tire in the radial direction. 
     
     
       3. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein a width of each groove is not less than 1.5 mm and not greater than 3.0 mm. 
     
     
       4. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio (Wi/Wo) of a width Wi of a portion, of each projection, which is disposed inward of its groove in the radial direction relative to a width Wo of a portion, of the projection, which is disposed outward of its groove in the radial direction is not less than 1.5 and not greater than 2.5. 
     
     
       5. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio (Ti/To) of a thickness Ti of a portion, of each projection, which is disposed inward of its groove in the radial direction relative to a thickness To of a portion, of the projection, which is disposed outward of its groove in the radial direction is not less than 0.95 and not greater than 1.05. 
     
     
       6. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the tire is produced by using a mold which has a first part and a second part and has a dividing line, between the first part and the second part, which extends in the circumferential direction and comes into contact with the side surface, and
 each groove overlaps an imaginary line, on the side surface, corresponding to the dividing line. 
 
     
     
       7. A tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced apart projections are aligned in the circumferential direction. 
     
     
       8. A tire according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of projections has a smaller projection on the outer side surface thereof. 
     
     
       9. A tire according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the entirety of each projection is disposed between the tread end and the maximum width position on the side surface of the tire. 
 
     
     
       10. A tire according to  claim 9 , wherein a single projection is disposed between the tread end and the maximum width position on a side surface of the tire, at any given position in the circumferential direction of the tire. 
     
     
       11. A tire according to  claim 1 , wherein a single projection is disposed between the tread end and the maximum width position on the side surface of the tire, at any given position in the circumferential direction of the tire. 
     
     
       12. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of projections is only a single element. 
     
     
       13. A tire comprising:
 a plurality of projections spaced apart in the circumferential direction and disposed between a tread end and a maximum width position on a side surface of the tire, wherein 
 each of the plurality of projections includes only a single groove that extends through an outer side surface of its projection in a circumferential direction, 
 the entirety of each groove is disposed outward of the center of its projection in a radial direction, 
 a depth of each groove is not less than 15% of a thickness of its projection and not greater than 30% of the thickness of its projection, and 
 each of the plurality of projections has a smaller projection on the outer side surface thereof. 
 
     
     
       14. A tire:
 a plurality of projections spaced apart in the circumferential direction and disposed between a tread end and a maximum width position on a side surface of the tire, wherein 
 each of the plurality of projections includes only a single groove that extends through an outer side surface of its projection in a circumferential direction, 
 the entirety of each groove is disposed outward of the center of its projection in a radial direction, 
 a depth of each groove is not less than 15% of a thickness of its projection and not greater than 30% of the thickness of its projection, and 
 a plurality of raised portions, each disposed between adjacent projections of the plurality of projections and being tapered. 
 
     
     
       15. A tire comprising:
 a plurality of projections spaced apart in the circumferential direction and disposed between a tread end and a maximum width position on a side surface of the tire, and 
 tread having a plurality of blocks extending to the tread end, wherein 
 each of the plurality of projections includes only a single groove that extends through an outer side surface of its projection in a circumferential direction, and 
 a ratio (Wi/Wo) of a width Wi of a portion, of each of the projections, which is disposed inward of its groove in a radial direction relative to a width Wo of a portion, of the projection, which is disposed outward of its groove in the radial direction is not less than 1.5 and not greater than 2.5, 
 a depth of each groove is not less than 15% of a thickness of its projection and not greater than 30% of the thickness of its projection, and 
 each of the plurality of projections is formed continuously with a corresponding block.